Colic is the leading cause of horse death and causes intense suffering — management practices that prevent it are central to equine welfare.
Colic prevention is equine welfare management in practical form. The management practices that reduce colic risk — ad libitum hay provision, consistent diet, regular exercise, clean water, dental care, and adequate parasite control — are the same practices that support good equine welfare across all dimensions. Horses whose management creates colic risk are simultaneously horses whose broader welfare is likely compromised. The pain of colic — which in severe cases is acute and distressing — is preventable through evidence-based management in most cases. Equine owners who invest in colic-preventive management are simultaneously investing in overall equine welfare.